# NTSB CEN24LA275: Bell 206B, N67110, Cuba City, WI, July 21, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 21, 2024, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Cuba City, WI - Coordinates: 42.624046, -90.397088 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6240&lon=-90.3971&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 194734 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA275 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194734/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194734 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA275 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a wire during an agricultural application pass. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was conducting agricultural spray operations at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he was distracted by ground vehicle traffic and the helicopter struck a wire. He lowered the collective, and the helicopter impacted the field. The helicopter rolled forward and came to rest on the left side of the fuselage. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system and the tail boom separated. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N67110](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N67110), registered now, S/N 5109, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206B - Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C20J](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20j) (registry code 54181, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 5109 - Year built: 1993 - Airframe hours: 14116.9 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C20J 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Mf Helicopters LLC - Registered owner: Mf Helicopters LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 11, 2024 - Departed: Darlington, WI - Destination: Cuba City, WI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: minor; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 23, 2022; seat: front; flight hours: 2,333 total, 283 in this make and model, 2,309 as pilot in command, 229 in the last 90 days, 176 in the last 30 days, 15 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KPVB, 4 nm away - METAR: METAR KPVB 211555Z AUTO 35003KT 10SM SCT019 SCT090 24/19 A3015 RMK AO1 T02400194= ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20240721017129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240721017129A), Jul 21, 2024: Bell 206B, Cuba City, WI, Destroyed. While applying aerial application the pilot was making a turn for the next swooth and struck the power lines. The cables pulled the aircraft to the ground… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 27, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194734. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17581546&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Report%20Form%20CEN24LA275_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 775 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17586094&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs%20CEN24LA275-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.